Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBWjzDUzAy
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcE0oH7pF9
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZyu0ysSUf
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA00ORebQZa
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdraDZObyzA
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRcFpxEAnA
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ReHvoH3Cc
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RRhTEzs0O
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX8LTBqYEP
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTdWHA3SQu
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoppXCVKt5
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFD13vMYk0
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBacXvopT3
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpBlroWaxl
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ttyzzPKOe
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC7qyz1evE
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP710kEjSNv
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMBtYp2n1A
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU9EeH3ixa
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LvAqJunqn
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5871cDstn
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO81WiVTD9
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipHsVrek3G
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio4heOqRWe
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8b7JV5PwC
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXUosmHHP9
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMfiMWmned
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBAeVOuhMF
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZKjz3MRjV
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp0kMqBdCQ
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8FRD6uOJI
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbay4X03pR
You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1Mli9idqb
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimU9ZKjVNB
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7eWpD0TLC
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdx6X86c91
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6RshDMxpz
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY7qJu5OSw
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBVejrk8Ri
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKxAIamvHF
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRupJYR5dT
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AoZubZRqQ
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEbB9twBkK
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoxPVhcqcw
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44VeN6YK9C
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD98g0AzyA
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK1AuJRpSI
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUfaafSaxV
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiS1iup1vd
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx7te8oslQ
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AOI2OYkhL
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfVe4OTwY0
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdEwsJiALb
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf6RQBWI0x
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMIFUIHe3U
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2L8k6SgZ8
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ948QPiRQl9
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxOl8Ky0Um
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe6A2eymz6
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnFn6cb3kB
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRwYUXqflg
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eYEJQa1Gy
You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMv4Ixrtqa
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg7j4VSBOS
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu5hmxrrLn
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hqYnLPwdK
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEj6Q5qTvWt
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY8BcRvjeC
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3LJlNcQOU
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTroCzuVYrW
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNA4fQxvHb
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTH8ENECEvH
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbItP74PssM
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUm4gN1yKx
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoRF6zf2uC
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoTT7sB7bh
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPdGocJPmi
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdTnwEMW75
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHWbAkokmf
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX0j14ULkE
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTZM5BXs4T
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdINYlO7dL
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2gf2cTB6d
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tUpDK6ioD
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F0zhjlwwc
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYxYD1Pr68
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOKqmyxteg
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL6pDid75h
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh08BsYxncV
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLk2rdTk0D
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrEmYDmycU
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVRoDXZk3v
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ999XPJ92oo
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcx4nz0wwS
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGSppciyFT
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkTgHTIpF3
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP6uk1EOXx
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz9urvq9Yo
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtJ09InfL6
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PoxUU63iK
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoprDICIJA1
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhZdmpiJV3
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMyTycYwCg
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAE8dSzO26
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9fwn3YdJb
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ1htp7AiN
Shin-woo: Need some help?306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28lSAUAgEW
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY69j8Di9SA
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJUHSLAT4w
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P02ZWFq9o
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvm92emL8F
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmP5cMcdIN
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqr0QjYHU7
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ3KLMb3WG
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvxwFlW00e
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpsVgpRgOZ
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMEF7Osmnr
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrRnj32hND
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTx9U6AN8s
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP90htnLtT
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXD8JZ95L4
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28iOjoHpbO
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rWkdbUXKN
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLNKX1voNe
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CebNY0UOG
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Mf9WABZJr
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN9YAvaayo
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMrloq9n3E
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2eYwAHlF2
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0eTYifvIU
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMZWudNV54
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLhDme5Wez
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9joPScQFFQ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP0z6w8DoE
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde283F5sef
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRTmGheV88
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbYLCs7SMJ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0WuaYZcC3
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocPTN7wn01
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqR4Kkzo6p
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIky5xLYioJ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6otiVfPVs
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWCPwsZyBZ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl28sY3UJT
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneSxfC8o5G
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi1btXbrZi
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BWgArGHCc
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJiDBIbENN
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBSMDkm1st
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wNB0AslrV
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKNHvIy6ax
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSyAs5PJYB
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkWq6SEjkm
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziRNN1DrS9
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZweR0ZoeM
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGOnTFfUgm
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9685qWwN5
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiPs1GUm2h
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURsJE6pGmV
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9EurkgKFv
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSYVypAjjY
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRrrISybt6
As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2X25LECV3L
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNTRiqVrdc
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFqg6HI4Yz
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI79lrE8GBV
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIMVucc5eW
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfClvSZEtV
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucdRVjSpyD
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NhKp8FBm3
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWihs0hHcT
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUgQDiU6KY
It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVNhonhxuY
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhoLt3dgDr
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoptjhduO8z
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUiEtI6gTS
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkYevjsa3j
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPImBvSZA67
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRbKjXuu93
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC3VXsm42a
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBwCEsTNYQ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIv4pbVGXu
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirAEsX5i5q
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7jpA5to6E
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcnfajlAyW
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozYEpdGFZK
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyuo0JGCza
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkgjVlmV0i
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyxD7bClpB
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8WDVdj1CN
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjicPKkCgDK
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sKRn66SBQ
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TCSRz5fKE
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TdDtrpZ9n
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC6t9hmnWQ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQvrSH149G
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacSfhhwAEX
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bsmHfDM6a
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs74ilxSkZ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IcRQI5gdx
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn3OeXPqCF
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ7fBN4tRD
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qs9yAshY0
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQgqoLR5iz
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmhPZNsfSl
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yhP9cJIZE
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquMDgpIBRV
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxsBl0w4Sf
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vx1VKvHxD
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEUo6ukeqs
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBW5u3uoax
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxES5kTRqpA
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6SOpMPLuS
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOonRtupJk
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBoDGnlBUR
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2M4qDR6iH
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedX0s134p1
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSuNtq3F0e
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42iVY0HKUy
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxTimhRL0R
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFJrewZPXo
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFsn7YqHkA
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8doslY3ld8
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhdSdn3qB0
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPNeGUGjoS
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZCI1HL8tq
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFe58b8lYj
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1Aqb1QKTe
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKDrwJ3kjT
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1faD0rALW5
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkpJVB8WEJ
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev4OEPiWWc
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KhkvfgKIc
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRKthU5CJf
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtDITQmNfX
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFbInOWmuK
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVFzIOsniE
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWjYscUvxp
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfmq9tjnt6
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpg8RtFLDk
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7msl7SP2ul
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqEr7Hkncm
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk7CDICgB8
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx2GCwIohS
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunD7plUSar
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH1a5joLAI
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl4QYxCixK
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GTgZ7wcRL
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2TdqrJGZq
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
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